Archaeological Practice MSc

What is special about this course?

The MSc Archaeological Practice is a world-leading archaeology course which equips you with the tools for work in the real world.

The course combines an emphasis on the key practical skills essential for a career within the archaeological profession with a critical study of the advanced theoretical and methodological concepts underpinning the discipline.

We stress the acquisition of vocational skills through practical experience using as our 'laboratory' the rich archaeological resource of Orkney, home to some of the world's most renowned archaeological monuments.

Core modules will introduce you to the principles, philosophy and theory of cultural heritage management and immerse you in a suite of practical archaeological techniques including: excavation; non-intrusive field archaeology; digital means of exploring and recording archaeological materials; environmental archaeology; and post-excavation analysis.

There is flexibility to pursue an interest in period-based modules which reflect the research specialisms of the Archaeology Institute staff, or you may choose to focus entirely on our professional skills modules.

Special features

Study in the outstanding archaeological landscape of the Orkney Islands

Contribute to cutting-edge archaeology research at world-renowned sites including the Ness of Brodgar World Heritage site excavations

MSc

To achieve the award of MSc Archaeological Practice you must complete a 60 credit professional placement or dissertation.

How will I study my course?

Full-time

Part-time (structured)

You will learn through face-to-face lectures and tutorials at Orkney College UHI and video conference tutorials with experts based at other university campuses, and online study via the university's virtual learning environment (VLE)

There is also a significant amount of fieldwork that involves excavation, investigation and curation techniques in one of the world's best archaeological classrooms, The Orkney Islands

International students requiring a Tier 4 visa to study with us must be based at Orkney College UHI during their studies. International students undertaking the course from their home country can study online and by video conference, in real-time or recordings

All other students can choose to study at Orkney College UHI or from their own location studying online and by video conference, in real-time or recordings

For more information, or if you have any questions about studying archaeology at the University of the Highlands and Islands, please contact us at: studyarchaeology@uhi.ac.uk

Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.

Enquiries from employers for multiple student registrations are welcome and special fee arrangements may apply.

Funding

The university is pleased to offer a limited numbers of places with full tuition fee support for Scottish/EU students studying full-time on this course starting in September 2018 to help talented students join this key growth sector for the Scottish economy. Fees will be funded by the European Social Fund and Scottish Funding Council as part of Developing Scotland’s Workforce in the Scotland 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Fund Programmes.

To be eligible for this funding, students must meet the criteria for Scottish or EU fee status and be resident in the Highlands and Islands (including Moray) or Perth and Kinross for the duration of their studies. In accordance with funding regulations, tuition fee support will only be available to students who meet the funding eligibility criteria and are self-funding i.e. who are not in receipt of funding for tuition fees from other sources, including employers. Funded places will be allocated and successful applicants notified from May onwards, available places will continue to be allocated throughout the recruitment cycle. There is no separate application process, applicants holding an offer will be considered against the eligibility rules.

Applications are welcome from all suitably qualified applicants. Students who do not meet the eligibility for the tuition fee support, or are not successful in being allocated one of the limited places, will be responsible for paying their own fees. However, there are other potential sources of funding support available.

From 2017, eligible Scotland-domiciled students studying full-time can access loans up to £10,000 from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). This comprises a tuition fee loan up to £5,500 and a non-income assessed living cost loan of £4,500. EU students studying full-time can apply for a tuition fee loan up to £5,500.

Part-time students undertaking any taught postgraduate course over two years up to Masters level, who meet the residency eligibility, can apply for a for a tuition fee loan up to £2,750 per year.

Full details can be found on the SAAS website. Applications for loans open in April.

Students from the rest of the UK who meet the eligibility requirements may be able to apply for a loan from the Student Loan Company.

What can I do on completion of my course?

Can I progress into further study?

You may wish to consider further study in areas such as: advanced research; vocational diplomas; masters by research; and PhD study.

Is there more information available online?

You can use the above QR code to connect directly to the course details.

What our students, graduates and staff say

I was attracted to study the course in Orkney due to the sheer scale of archaeology present on the islands. This, combined with the support from the teaching staff and the unrivalled access afforded me at The Cairns, enabled me to follow an innovative line of research that played to my strengths. The opportunity to be involved with world-leading excavations at the Ness of Brodgar and other sites was also a chance not to be missed.

Ben Price, MSc Archaeological Practice graduate.

I was impressed with the subject selection: from professional training in techniques such as geophysical surveying, to historical subject-specific classes with topics as diverse as the material culture of the Norse, or burial practices. Even greater was the opportunity to apply these techniques and research methods to specific sites around the Orkney Islands.

Ian Clements, MSc Archaeological Practice graduate.

The Archaeology Institute combines the academic and scholarly prowess of the teaching team, who are based across the Highlands and Islands, with the professional and applied skills of the consultancy field unit, Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology (ORCA). We are the only Scottish university with an archaeology teaching department to have such a dynamic ‘in-house’ relationship with the archaeology industry. This 'real-world' professional insight means that added value is given to the student experience.

We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI). UHI operates a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.

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